Candle assembly and fuel element therefor

• US 8,573,967 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Crapser, James R., Helf, Thomas A., Mikic, Tommy
• Primary Examiner(s): Basichas, Alfred
• Application Number:
  US12/896,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20120082947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 431/292, 431/289, 431/301, 431/298
• US Class Current: 431/292
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 9/00 Feeding-bottles in general
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/064 Suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1007 Breast; mammary
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 5/006 wicks, related accessories
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 5/008 Candles characterised by their form; Composite candles, e.g. candles containing zones of different composition, inclusions, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 3/16 using candles
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 3/24 Carriers for wicks

Abstract

A candle assembly comprises a fuel element having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, and a channel extending through the fuel element from the first surface to the second surface. A support structure is adapted to support the first surface of the fuel element within a central portion of the support structure. A wick retainer has a flat portion with a centralized conduit extending outwardly from a top surface of the flat portion. A wick has a first end disposed within the wick retainer, wherein the wick and wick retainer are embedded in the fuel element prior to use such that a second end of the wick extends outwardly beyond the second surface of the fuel element.

Claims

1. A candle assembly, comprising:

a fuel element having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, and a channel extending through the fuel element from the first surface to the second surface;

a support structure adapted to support the first surface of the fuel element within a depression of the support structure and wherein the second surface of the fuel element protrudes outwardly beyond the depression in a pre-operative state;

a wick retainer having a flat portion with a centralized conduit extending outwardly from a top surface of the flat portion; and

a wick having a first end that extends outwardly beyond the second surface of the fuel element and a second end disposed within the wick retainer, wherein the wick and wick retainer are embedded in the fuel element prior to use.

2. The candle assembly of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the flat portion of the wick retainer further includes a plurality of circular depressions disposed therearound.

3. The candle assembly of claim 1, wherein the conduit of the wick retainer is provided in the form of a truncated cylinder that, after crimping of the wick retainer with wick therein, has a generally half-moon-shaped cross-section.

4. The candle assembly of claim 1, wherein the fuel element is provided in the form of a fuel pebble that is disposed substantially entirely within the circumference of the depression in a central portion of the support structure.

5. The candle assembly of claim 1, wherein the conduit of the wick retainer further includes an opening in a surface thereof that allows molten fluid to access the second end of the wick.

6. The candle assembly of claim 5, wherein the opening is spaced slightly above the flat portion of the wick retainer.

7. The candle assembly of claim 1, wherein the support structure includes a generally planar surface surrounding the depression in a central portion thereof.

8. The candle assembly of claim 7, wherein a plurality of circular depressions is formed in the flat portion of the wick retainer such that, when the fuel element, the wick, and the wick retainer are disposed within the depression, the fuel element and the wick retainer are spaced from the surface of the depression.

9. The candle assembly of claim 8, wherein when the fuel element is placed within the depression and the fuel element is melted, the depression is shaped such that fuel from the fuel element collects adjacent the wick retainer.

10. The candle assembly of claim 9, wherein the circular depressions space the flat portion of the wick retainer from a surface of the depression such that a capillary path is created under the wick retainer, and thus under the fuel element, to supply fuel to the wick while a flame is present within the wick.

11. A fuel system for a candle assembly, comprising:

a fuel element having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, and a channel extending through the fuel element from the first surface to the second surface; and

a wick retainer having a flat portion with a centralized conduit extending outwardly from a top surface of the flat portion, wherein the conduit of the wick retainer includes an opening in a surface thereof spaced above the flat portion that allows molten fluid to access a second end of a wick, and

wherein the wick has a first end that extends outwardly beyond the second surface of the fuel element and the second end is disposed within the wick retainer.

12. The fuel system of claim 11, wherein the top surface of the flat portion of the wick retainer further includes a plurality of circular depressions disposed therearound.

13. The fuel system of claim 11, wherein the conduit of the wick retainer is provided in the form of a truncated cylinder that, after crimping of the wick retainer with wick therein, has a generally half-moon-shaped cross-section.

14. The candle assembly of claim 11, wherein the opening is spaced slightly above the flat portion of the wick retainer.

15. A method of providing a candle assembly, the method comprising:

providing a support structure having a surface surrounding a depression in a central portion thereof;

providing a fuel element comprised of a fuel having a volatile material therein, wherein the fuel element includes a wick retainer and a wick disposed therein and wherein the fuel element includes a surface that protrudes outwardly beyond the depression;

providing the wick retainer with a flat portion and a conduit extending outwardly from the flat portion, wherein the flat portion includes a plurality of depressions extending away from the conduit to create a first capillary path below the wick retainer when the fuel element with wick and wick retainer are disposed within the depression of the support structure; and

creating a second capillary path through the wick retainer such that the capillary path supplies fuel to the wick when a flame is present on the wick, thereby allowing substantially all of the fuel to be depleted.

16. The method of claim 15, further including the steps of crimping the conduit of the wick retainer around the wick to retain the wick therein and creating an opening in a surface of the conduit that allows molten fluid to access the wick and forms the second capillary path.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second capillary paths provide a continuous supply of melted fuel to the wick until all of the fuel has been substantially depleted.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the fuel element is provided in the form of a fuel pebble that is disposed substantially entirely within the circumference of the depression in the support structure.